CASA provides alternate way to help foster kids

It's no secret that the foster care system in Pima County is broken. There are more than 4,000 abused and neglected children in the system.

The county is desperately looking for foster parents. But there is another way you can help.

Pima County has a program called CASA. It's a special advocate program. These volunteers are trained and appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of a child. In some cases, the CASA volunteer is the only consistent thing in a child's life.

Unfortunately, there are only about 250 CASA volunteers right now - and many, many more kids lost in the system.

In order to be a volunteer you must be 21 years old and pass a background check. It requires about 20 hours a month of your time.